Reply
Super Contributor
Posts: 498
Registered: ‎05-21-2018

Where does all the debris go after a hurricane?

I see the photos of houses destroyed, boats, entire neighborhoods.  Where/what do they do with all of it.  Do they haul it to somewhere, then separate it, reuse metal, grind the  wood, bury it? Plus, I imagine there is a lot of items mixed in which makes it toxic.  I guess that's what local government does, but does an individual homeowner pay a fee?

 

I understand flood damage, the homeowner needs to separate items to be collected, but certainly no homeowner can clean up much more than tree damage. 

 

I just want to say how heartbroken I am for the people that are affected by this latest hurricane.  I also am heartbroken whenever I read of other parts of our beautiful country when they face fires, tornadoes, mud slides, etc.  It seems like everywhere we live, we are hit with something.  

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,037
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Where does all the debris go after a hurricane?

I've wondered the same. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,989
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Where does all the debris go after a hurricane?

I'm guessing the county landfill.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,695
Registered: ‎12-02-2013

Re: Where does all the debris go after a hurricane?

@new nickname 4 

 

A few years ago after Hurricane Irma made landfall on Marco Island, FL.  It was 15 mins. from our condo in Naples. The huge resort contains almost 30 developments within its confines.  The tree damage / loss went into the hundreds.

 

Folks who lived there year round told us that the sounds of chippers and shredders was almost non stop for over a week.  I would imagine that the mulch got sold.

 

Like you I wonder where the rest of it goes, besides the salvageable to thrift stores and countries suffering similar devastation.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill
Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,071
Registered: ‎03-14-2010

Re: Where does all the debris go after a hurricane?


@deepwaterdotter wrote:

I'm guessing the county landfill.


The whole area is a landfill.

Highlighted
Honored Contributor
Posts: 36,947
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Where does all the debris go after a hurricane?

Probably some of it will be buried, some aluminum maybe recycled, wood may be burned, some go on barges and dumped deep ocean,  but it will be a massive and expensive job, and not all will be "eco friendly."

 

It will cost all of us a pretty penny for sure.  And I'll bet the country has little savings (other than print more money/more inflation) for this either. 

 

 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,069
Registered: ‎04-25-2020

Re: Where does all the debris go after a hurricane?


@new nickname 4 wrote:

I see the photos of houses destroyed, boats, entire neighborhoods.  Where/what do they do with all of it.  Do they haul it to somewhere, then separate it, reuse metal, grind the  wood, bury it? Plus, I imagine there is a lot of items mixed in which makes it toxic.  I guess that's what local government does, but does an individual homeowner pay a fee?

 

I understand flood damage, the homeowner needs to separate items to be collected, but certainly no homeowner can clean up much more than tree damage. 

 

I just want to say how heartbroken I am for the people that are affected by this latest hurricane.  I also am heartbroken whenever I read of other parts of our beautiful country when they face fires, tornadoes, mud slides, etc.  It seems like everywhere we live, we are hit with something.  


@new nickname 4   In my case anyway, they haul it away to the landfill, but I don't know for sure if/what they separate.  As far as the cost, they don't charge us per se, but apparently FEMA reimburses our city for the costs.  So essentially, all of us pay, one way or another. Woman Sad

I would give everything I own just to have you back again.......David Gates of Bread
Honored Contributor
Posts: 36,947
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Where does all the debris go after a hurricane?

Would be nice to give jobs to people who need them along the way. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,432
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Where does all the debris go after a hurricane?


@Sooner wrote:

Would be nice to give jobs to people who need them along the way. 


@Sooner 

In our area, there are more jobs than people wanting jobs.  I think many, post Covid, are still leaning on Uncle for everything including insurance.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,492
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Where does all the debris go after a hurricane?

At first it seemed like a silly question but after thinking it over it is a very good question!   Where does all of the stuff go?!  I can only assume that some can be recycled and toxic things go where they they dispose of tht sort of thing.

 

I can remember going to visit my mother in south Florida about a month after a major hurricane many years ago that hit her area.  You could see from the plane all of the blue tarps covering so many homes.  I think it was almost 50/50 of homes that had them covering their roofs.